Blauwe Golven, Environmental artwork beneath Nelson Mandela Bridge in Arnhem, Netherlands
Blauwe Golven is a paving artwork in shades of blue and white positioned beneath the Nelson Mandela Bridge, composed of stones arranged in flowing wave patterns. The installation incorporates parking spaces directly within its geometric layout.
This work was created in 1977 by Peter Struycken during the construction phase of the Nelson Mandela Bridge. It emerged as an artistic response to urban renewal happening in Arnhem at that moment.
The piece represents a milestone of the Arnhemse School movement, which integrated artistic elements into city planning during the 1970s Netherlands.
The best way to experience the piece is to walk across the paved surface where the wave patterns become visible from different angles. The site is always accessible and free to visit at any time.
Cars park at varying angles across the wave pattern, making each parking arrangement itself part of the artistic composition. This constantly changing layout creates a different image with every visit.
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